Fashion With a Side of Politics: All the NYFW Shows That Political Personalities Are Attending
New York Fashion Week 2017 has definitely been one of the most politically charged fashion weeks in recent history, with themes of feminism, equality, and patriotism ruling many shows; A-list models like Bella Hadid strutting down the runway in slogan T-shirts; and those pink Planned Parenthood pins appearing everywhere. But the politics aren’t just relegated to the runway; they’re sitting in the front rows too.
Tiffany Trump made her first public appearance since the inauguration at the fall 2017 Taoray Wang show this weekend. The first daughter, who wore a Wang design to her father’s inauguration, attended the show in a simple white shift dress alongside her mother, Marla Maples, and unlike some stylists and casting directors who are proudly boycotting all things Trump this fashion week, Wang couldn’t be happier about her high-profile fan. “She is absolutely a wonderful young lady,” the designer told Refinery29. “I’d rather focus on a person’s character and qualities, rather than labeling them by what family they’re from.”
Trump has also been spotted in the front rows of Dennis Basso and Philipp Plein, though her appearance at the latter may have caused quite the stir. On Monday evening, Fashionista.com editor in chief Alyssa Vingan Klein tweeted that seating at the New York Public Library show was a bit of a mess as a result of editors trying to avoid the youngest Trump daughter.
Seating shitshow at Philipp Plein because no editors want to sit near Tiffany Trump. SHOCKER.
— Alyssa Vingan Klein (@alyssavingan) February 14, 2017
Trump’s bestie and fellow Philipp Plein show attendee Andrew Warren, however, took to Instagram to clear up that matter. “That seat was never empty it was reserved for [Plein’s] family,” he captioned a picture of the pair, practicing their rich kids of Instagram stares in the front row.
A post shared by Andrew Warren (@adwarren) on Feb 14, 2017 at 8:41am PST
On the other side of the political spectrum, well-known Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin has been spotted in the front rows of Alice + Olivia and Tracy Reese. But it was her appearance at Prabal Gurung alongside formidable fashion fans Priyanka Chopra, Diane Kruger, and Sarah Jessica Parker that was perhaps most apropos. In addition to a parade of beautifully fitted dresses, flowing blouses, and sleek pantsuits, the designer’s fall 2017 show featured models wearing graphic T-shirts emblazoned with slogans speaking to women’s rights issues that Abedin — and her high-profile boss — are known to support.
Former first daughter and recently emerged Twitter crusader Chelsea Clinton was also spotted quietly attending the presentation of her designer pal Tanya Taylor this week. According to Page Six, Clinton flew under the radar at the event, sliding into her seat with a publicist in a “nondescript” winter coat. But when you (or your parents) are that high up on the political food chain, you can never really go incognito.
Related: Selena Gomez Made Her Coach Front Row Debut in a Semi-Sheer Dress
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